1. Keep it simple with a sheath or other dress style with clean lines.

2. Choose a neutral color palette like black, beige, gray or brown using your dress as the backdrop.

3. Get creative. Add neck pieces that look like works of art and shoes that stop traffic for a look that is sophisticated, elegant and interesting.

Statement necklace + strappy heels = nighttime glamour

Recently I shared an everyday Red Carpet Moment with my dear friend Kate Atwood that as moving, loving and INSPIRING. After losing her mother at 12 year’s old, Kate turned her loss into a life-changing organization called Kate’s Club, an organization designed to give children who have experienced the loss of a parent a place to share their grief with other survivors and experience fun again. This year, Kate’s Club is celebrating its 10^th Anniversary and Kate received an award for her vision and selflessness.  Click here to see her accept her award – get inspired.

Kate Atwood (in a teal gown by Badgley Mischka) and her dad

While we all love to look at the post gala photos of our favorite celebrities, remember that each of our lives is sprinkled with Red Carpet Moments that are life changing for your families and your communities.

Thankful to Kate for her huge heart and for sharing this Every Day Red Carpet moment with me – you look marvelous!!

Kate & I worked together remotely to create her look. If you are looking for a Virtual Style Strategy session contact info@stylestrategist.com. 

Color sets a tone and evokes emotion and can impact your audience when speaking to a large audience or presenting your ideas to a group. Color can also make you look more healthy and vibrant or have the opposite effect, creating a look that is sunken and tired. They can also make you look

When used effectively color can signal others to action or communicate your authority or control. What vibe do you want to create? Do you want a look that conveys power, high energy or serenity? Understanding what colors make you look your best can greatly impact your business influence. Make sure the colors you select are sending the right message and complimenting your message.

Use the power of color to reinforce your message

Although inspired by New York City gals on the move, Tracy Reese clearly understands the busy lives women lead, regardless of where they live, trying to balance work, family, and a social life with style and grace. Thus, this season Reese created clothes that are sophisticated and put-together enough for day, but can seamlessly move to post-work activities and even look slightly mussed up, yet chic and almost even better, the following day. A balance of slouch, vintage, and more body-conscious silhouettes reigned on the runway, however a sense of comfort and carefree ease exuded through Reese’s knit and forgiving woven fabric selections.

As glamorous as it looks for 30 seconds on the runway, Reese knows that when it comes to being practical, we don’t run around in five-inch heels all day long, and hence, styled her collection with her own line of footwear that featured vintage-inspired cuts in classic black and the occasional pop of solid red or teal, accompanied by a small, thick, sturdy heel. The styling proved to be a slightly eclectic mash-up of colorful blend of reds, blues, plaids, reworked animal prints, and sequins in silhouettes ranging from silken, slouchy pants to flounced skirts, long evening coats, and slightly boxy moto jackets.

A standout look that surfaced several times in Reese’s fall 2013 collection that can make a straightforward transition into a professional wardrobe and is sure to be on trend for 2013 is the soft meets rough elements of dressing. Take a leather jacket and wear a ladylike tea-length dress underneath, or an ultra soft, dolman sleeved sweater paired with a tight woven skirt that hits just below the knee, which can also be updated for various climates with a widened short sleeve or crisp, collared-shirt tucked in and layered with a cocoon sweater, blazer, or softly tailored moto jacket for a chic office dress update.

Add a jacket for the office for day to night ease.

As Tracy Reese seems to successfully accomplish season after season, individually, each of these pieces can effortlessly move into one’s existing wardrobe to make a fashion forward yet assertive, chic statement everywhere from the boardroom to a much-needed night out with the gals.

“I am thrilled to be ambassador for an international brand like LASIO that is so well respected around the world,” said Evans. “I believe that style and personal image begins with taking care of yourself inside and out and that’s what the LASIO brand represents.”

Evans will contribute a bi-monthly video blog for fashion aficionados. In the vlogs she will share tips about style, personal image and hair trends for the workplace along with the lastest in the world of fashion and beauty. In addition, Evans will show women how to achieve the looks that they want using LASIO products.

“We believe in the total customer experience,” says Morisha Gaul, Marketing and Sales Executive of Lasio Inc. “Our customers feel that commitment to service when they visit our flagship salon, LASIO STUDIOS, this is a way of visually bringing some of that style and experience to the homes of our customers all over the world.”

The partnership was announced in January, making Evans the newest style ambassador for the company. Evans first videoblog will be launched in mid-February 2013. The partnership further positions Evans as an image expert and tastemaker and will allow her to share her belief in celebrating individual beauty and helping women achieve the image and hair styles they want to achieve.

“Lasio is creating a stylish, chic customer learning experience, and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” added Evans.

About Lasio Inc.
Since 2000, LASIO®, Inc has grown to an internationally known beauty conglomerate; introducing the world to HYPERSILK®, a miraculous line of keratin infused daily hair care products, and Keratin Tropic®, the first formaldehyde free keratin treatment. LASIO® continues to grow and excel as a brand committed to providing innovative products and tools for in salon services and at home use. Today, the LASIO® staff is responsible for certifying thousands of stylists worldwide and LASIO® Professional Hair Care products can be found throughout the world. With a rapidly growing international presence LASIO® has made permanent marks in France, the UK, Egypt, South Africa, Kuwait, and India with several other international relationships being developed regularly. To learn more about the airing of Tonya’s videoblog, visit Lasio Inc.’s site at www.lasioinc.com or send an email to marketing@lasioinc.com, or phone 718.361.0072. Twitter handle:@LASIONYC Facebook: Lasioprofessionalhaircare

About Style Strategist Inc.
Style Strategist, Inc. is a South Florida-based image and communications consultancy with a passion for teaching individuals how to marry their style with their message. As a former communications professional for Fortune 500 clients, President & Founder Tonya Seavers Evans understands the complexities of cultivating an image that will help her clients meet their aspirational goals and capture the attention of a sales audience of one, or auditorium of one thousand. Evans and her team create a Blend Out Style Strategy through a careful evaluation of body silhouette, fabrication, color, and wardrobe development. Whether you are an entrepreneur, executive, or professional, Style Strategist will help create an image that conveys professionalism, polish and style. For more information contact Tonya Seavers Evans, Style Strategist Inc., www.stylestrategist.com, or email at nimat@stylestrategist.com Twitter handle: @TonyaSE. Facbeook: StyleStrategist

PRESS CONTACT

Nimat Lalani, Style Strategist Inc.
Email: nimat@stylestrategist.com
www.stylestrategist.com

Morisha Gaul, Lasio Inc.
Email: morisha@lasioinc.com
www.lasioinc.com
Phone: 718.361.0072

I’m lucky to have a mother that has always walked confidently in the world. She knows who she is; never lies about her age; and is both stylish and elegant. Today, I worked with a woman in her 70’s that blew me away with that sense of “knowing”. I gave her some great new looks but her charisma was contagious. She needed an updated look on the outside to match the self-confidence and new adventures for the next chapter of her new life.

The best is yet to come!

Mommy G {her alias} understood the need to align her image with who she is on the inside – one that would complement the next chapter of her life and her fabulosity. What does your personal brand say about you? Does image reflect where you are going? Contact nimat@stylestrategist.com to schedule a complimentary phone consultation to discuss how to marry your style with your message.

Together we establish a clear understanding of the image standards within their organization. We identify leaders within the organization or those outside the organization as our “gold standard.” We also look at their long-term career aspirations to create an overall context for their new image and brand.

Jay Z and Beyonce at President Obama’s 2013 Inauguration

And do you know who I look to as a great example of context and a clear understanding of the power of image? Rap artist Jay-Z.  Jay-Z is a classic example of authentic transformation. As his life evolved and changed his brand evolved from artist to manager; and again from manager to mogul; his look evolved from baggy jeans and tees to custom made suits. He understood that to be taken seriously he needed an executive image in the boardroom. His decision to harness his image influence and his clear understanding of image context landed him on the cover of Forbes Magazine and relationships with business titans like Warren Buffett.

Where is your brand headed? Does your image reflect where you are going? Are your image influencers a reflection of brand you? Take an image assessment and make sure your image reflects your long-term goals and make an authentic change.

Jay Z and Warren Buffett Grace the Cover of Forbes

Charlotte Business Professionals welcomes branding experts with practical advice

Charlotte, NC – What better way to start the new year than to learn how you can enhance your career by improving your personal brand. Join the Charlotte Business Professionals (www.charlottebp.com) on January 31, 2013 as Marcus Kimbrough of alan winters & associates and Tonya Seavers Evans from Style Strategist present, “What is your personal brand?” The event will take place from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at Strike City at the Epicenter at 201 East Trade Street. Entry to the event is $20 payable online or at the door; a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

“Whether you are satisfied in your current career or are searching for a new job, your personal brand is your promise of the value others will receive as they work with you,” says Marcus Kimbrough, Senior Partner at alan winters & associates. “Your brand must represent who you really are and what you do best. Too many clients we work with try to be all things to all people; this ultimately leads to failure. This session will help attendees understand how to play to their strengths and move forward in their careers.” alan winters & associates provides career coaching, leadership and professional development services.

“In today’s highly competitive talent marketplace, understanding the importance of personal branding is critical whether you are an entrepreneur or work within an organization,” says Tonya Seavers Evans, president of Style Strategist, Inc. “Events like these that provide relevant brand building information are key to long-term business success.” Tonya Seavers Evans is a Miami-based image consultant, speaker and author.

“As we kick off a new speaker series in 2013, we are excited to present a session with practical advice CBP members can put to use right away,” says Jason Mckinstry, founder of Charlotte Business Professionals. “As always, our goal is to promote member to member business opportunities and allow area professionals to learn about current topics of interest and network with other professionals.”

Business professionals are invited to join CBP (membership is free) and register online to attend the event by visiting the website at www.charlottebp.com. The cost is $20, payable online through PayPal or cash at the door. Walk-ins are welcome, contingent on available space.

Charlotte Business Professionals currently has over 22,000 professional members representing multiple industries. Members’ roles range from C-level executives, high-level managers, HR, staffing and financial professionals, to small and medium-sized business owners, sports professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Our goals are to develop strong connections that promote opportunity and drive business between members, provide education on issues facing the business community and join together in recognizing and supporting local community and charitable organizations.

This Charlotte Business Professionals event is presented by Event Quest USA, mPower Consulting (www.mpoweringu.com), vitalink® (www.vitalinkweb.com), and Strike City (http://strikecitycharlotte.com).

The major trends for fall 2013 include solid metals from gold to metallic blue and shimmering green; french manicure versions in winter white; and nails dipped in ombre.

My favorite was the modern twist on the basic french with a muted tone combined with a red or black tip. Check out my nail art inspiration on the take and my test drive. Will you give it a try?